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24-4-2008 - My Pregnancy

My mood while writing this blog: fatigued

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I am 26 years old and have been married for 6 years, Ray and I met when I was 17 and still living at my moms house and he was 25 and living next door as a bachelor. Ray is from Guatemala and so he is a very family oriented, down-to-earth kind of guy and a great father. It is always fun to see him teach the kids spanish and his native language kackchiquel. I am a full-time stay at home mom, and I love it but I also get so lonely with no adults to talk to all day.

Pregnancy

We are expecting our 4rth child in early April. We have an 8 year old daughter Maddy, 5 year old son Damian and 3 year old son James. I also had a miscarriage years ago which was a painful experience. I had an epidural with my first 2 and all natural with my third which was a much more satisfying experience. So far this has been my easiest pregnancy except for the 5 weeks of morning sickness that made me loose 15 pounds and at 27 weeks i have only gained 14 of that back!

20 weeks- We just found out we are having another boy which we are very happy with, and we have already named him Aaden Raymundo. We had a 4d ultrasound and it is so cool I swear he looks just like my other 2 boys gosh I am so in love with him!

January 7 2007. I am now 28 weeks pregnant and was told by my Dr. that my baby has a single umbilical artery. I am very scared because they told me very little about the condition. I will see a perinatologist in 2 weeks for a level ll ultrasound to check for deformities or birth defects and they are going to monitor me every week for problems. My other 3 pregnancies were very healthy and normal so this is new to me. If anyone else has had experience with this condition I would love to hear from you.

"Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."

Jan 20 2007- Wow! I cant believe I am 30 weeks already! I am so relieved, I have done nothing but worry about premature delivery my entire pregnancy even though I have no history of it. It is reasurring to know that every day that goes by my baby has a greater chance of survival. 2 more days until I see the specialist, I hope everything is okay.

Jan 21 2007- I saw the perinatologist today. He did a detailed ultrasound and confirmed the single umbilical artery but couldn't find and other defects or abnoralities and I am so relieved! The baby also measured right on for age, so he is growing okay. He is going to start non-stress tests in 2 weeks though and see me back in 4 weeks for another ultrasound. I got a cute 4d picture of my baby and he is so cute I can't wait to hold him!

Jan 22 2007- 30 weeks-I saw my Certified Nurse Midwife today. I measured right on 30 weeks where I should be which is great since Babies with single umbilical artery are at great risk for intrauterine growth restiction. My Midwife also reassured me that since my baby has no other birth defects he should do fine other than growth which they will monitor very closely.

Jan 27 2007- 31 weeks- I have been so tired the last few days, even though I have been taking my iron. I'm also having so much trouble sleeping, I am only comfortable on my right side but after a couple hours I cramp up and need to move but no position to move to! Also this week it has become harder to breathe and feels like baby is in my ribs and my thigh bones and pelvic bones hurt so bad all the time I really am getting more uncomfortable every day but all worth it for my little baby.

Feb. 7 2008- 32 weeks. Had my app. with my midwife today, I measured right on 31-32 weeks blood pressure dropped ten points from normal urine was perfect.

Feb.13 2008 33 weeks- I have been having terrible "menstrual like" cramps for more than 26 hours now. I wasn't sure what to think of it so I finally called my Certified Nurse Midwife and she sent me over to labor and delivery. Of course they made me get naked and put a gown on I really wish I would of at least shaved my legs (so embarrasing) be ready ladies you never know when! So anyways they checked me and I was dilated to a 2 and they did a fetal fibronectin test to see what the chances of me delivering in the next 2 weeks was and it was negative. My blood pressure was 140/96 and it is always been 118/80 at Dr visits They also said my legs were very swollen which is great 'cus I thought all this time that I was getting more fat down there. The baby was great heartbeat and movement and everything but the monitor was picking up contractions every 4-5 min the whole 4 hours I was there. They really didn't know weather to keep me or send me home. They did a cbc (complete blood count) which was perfect and urine was perfect so they were not sure what the cramping was. They gave me some pills (and forgot to ask what they were for) but they really knocked me out, I couldn't lift an arm and I was terrified they would suppress my breathing. Yucky pills I will never trust every decision the Doctors make again! Anyways I have been in bed since and its a little scary thinking the baby really can come anytime so next time I will be ready.

Feb. 19 2008, 34 weeks- Saw my midwife today I measured a little big for this week, I was suppose to start non-stress tests today and have an ultrasound but my midwife was like ohhh we'll just start them next week. My perinatologist ordered her to do them this week so now I'm frustrated. My midwife just seemed too busy today but I am still paying her the same amount as always!

Feb. 26 2008, 35 weeks. I saw my midwife today. I measured right on and my urine and blood pressure were normal, but I gained 4 pounds in 1 week! I guess I should not have given in to those chocolate cravings. I also started my weekly ultrasounds and the fluid volume was normal, 11.74 cm and I had a non-stress test and the nurse said everything was perfect but I noticed when I was having a contraction the babys heart rate dipped to 50 I don't know if that is normal but I guess I will have to wait 'till next week to ask my Perinatologist.

March 3-Non-stress test- Baby looked good, I was having contractions every 2-3 min. on the monitor and a lot almost non stop for 2 days, and the nurse thought for sure I must be in labor so she checked me and I was only dilated to a 1 so I guess my body is just practicing, it is getting very annoying having so many Braxton-Hicks, some painful when I still have 3-4 weeks to go!

36 weeks- lost part of my mucus plug, so I know that labor could be days away or weeks away but it is exciting to know something is happening and I wont be pregnant forever!

March 5- Perinatologist visit- I saw the specialist agian today and he did an ultrasound to check for birth defects, growth, afi, and general well-being of the baby. He was very impressed and said every thing looks perfect and to go home and have a healthy baby!

March 11-Midwife visit, gained 4 pounds in 2 weeks uuuuhhh! she did my group b strep and she discussed my birth plan, and since I am going natural she said she would come to the hospital earlier in labor and help me out with breathing and such. She said if its okay with me she would like me to grab the baby when he comes out and place him on my chest skin-to-skin and nurse him and hold him for an hour before they take him to the nursery. That sounds awesome, with my other 3 babies the nurses and Doctors were so anxious to take them to he nursery right after they were born to clean them up etc. I have waited 9 months to hold them and they make me wait atleast 2 more hours, not right!

I also had my afi today which was 15.74 cm and did my nst which went great!

Mar 12-37 weeks, I really thought I was in labor tonight. I layed down at 9:30 to go to sleep and strated having menstrual like cramps along with contractions every 3-5 min. the contractions finally stopped at 1:00 am so I guess mybody was just preparing, but I realised how nervous I am to go in to labor for real, I need to relax.

March 18-Midwifevisit, I measured good and she checked my cervix and she said I was dilated to 2 and still pretty thick. She said to come in her office in 2 days and she would strip my membranes. At my ultrasound things looked good fluid was 14 cm. Then did my stress test everything ok!

March 20. Appt to strip membranes- DIlated to 2 1/2 and cervix not as high as 2 days ago. My midwife would not strip my membranes because she said labor and delivery are comletely full, but thats okay I have plans for Easter anyways.

(later that day) 6:00 Having a few painful contractions and I just lost a huge part of my mucus plug.

March 25 ultrasound, afi was 16.34, stress test, baby was doing good and and midwife visit she said I am 2 1/2 cm dilated and 50% effaced and babys head dropped further down. She stripped my membranes though I didn't really feel anything and I don't think it did anything to help me but we'll see.

April 1 - appt with midwife, nst, and afi if needed! My midwife has scheduled an induction for April 3. She is going to break my water to induce!

LABOR PREDICTION QUIZ

Get your bags packed early just in case you need them. Make sure your partner has a phone available when he's away because this baby just might come early. We predict your baby will come 2-3 weeks early. Your baby will most likely be born in the morning. Justmommies predicts that your baby will weigh approximately 6.8 pounds and that your labor will be about 8 hours long.

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